Town News Briefing

MANCHESTER -- A former store manager who police said stole more than $3,000 in deposits and went bar-hopping in Hartford has been arrested.

Matthew Oakes, 29, of 611 Hartford Road, was arrested Monday on a warrant charging him with third-degree larceny, police said.

Police said Oakes failed to make deposits for the Family Dollar store, 213 Spencer St., on Aug. 5 and Aug. 6, pocketing $3,436.86. He gave police several stories about what happened after that, but a consistent one was that he went to Hartford to drink at bars, police said.

He also told police more than $3,000 was stolen when he was robbed in Hartford. When he reported the robbery to Hartford police, however, he only mentioned that his watch and backpack were stolen, police said.

Oakes posted $2,500 bail Tuesday in Manchester Superior Court. He is scheduled to return to court April 1.

MANCHESTER

Man Charged In Assault

In Presence Of Child

MANCHESTER -- A local man was arrested early Tuesday after he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman while a child was in the room.

James Wilson, 41, of 118 Main St., was charged with second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor, police said.

He was in police custody on $25,000 bail Tuesday afternoon, police said.

EAST WINDSOR

Part Of Depot Street

To Close Saturday

EAST WINDSOR -- Depot Street between Main and Emily streets will be closed to through traffic from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday because of a scheduled event at Broad Brook Pond.

AREAWIDE

Funeral Directors

Offer Scholarships

Local high school seniors may apply for a scholarship from the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association through April 16, the deadline for the fifth consecutive CFDA college scholarship program.

A total of eight $500 college scholarships will be granted, one to a student in each of the state's eight counties.

To receive an application or for more information about the program, call CFDA at 860-721-0234 or 800-919-2332. Applications may be downloaded from the organization's website at www.ctfda.org.

HARTFORD/WINDSOR

Police Say Victim Shot

At Car Wash Was 19

Hartford police have identified the man who was shot and killed at a local car wash Monday as 19-year-old Jarvis Shealey of Windsor.

Shealey became the city's fifth homicide victim of the year when a gunman shot him in the head while he was cleaning his car at the Buggy Bath car wash at Homestead Avenue and Woodland Street, police said.

No suspects have been identified, but police said several witnesses have been questioned.

Shealey was arrested on drug charges in Windsor in August 2002, and records show he was convicted of selling drugs, but city police have not said if the slaying appears to be drug-related.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Hartford police detectives at 860-527-6300.

NEWINGTON

Suspicious Powder

Found To Be Candy

NEWINGTON -- A white suspicious powder a postal worker found at the U.S. Post Office on Lowery Place Tuesday morning turned out to be crushed Valentine's Day candy.

Kevin McDonough, assistant postal inspector in charge, said the white powdery substance leaking out of a red envelope was heart-shaped candy that had crushed inside the envelope during the sorting process.

``It turned out to be harmless,'' McDonough said.

The Lowery Place post office was evacuated around 10 a.m. while members of the state Department of Environmental Protection, the state Police Hazmat unit and the fire marshal's office went to the scene.

The post office reopened shortly before noon.

AREAWIDE

Nominees Sought

For Citizenship Awards

United Technologies Corp. and the Greater Hartford YMCA are seeking nominees for the Youth Citizenship Awards, held in honor of the late Wesley A. Kuhrt, who was president of Sikorsky Aircraft and a former UTC vice president.

People 15 to 20 who are active volunteers for community organizations, churches, hospitals and other nonprofits are eligible. Nominees must be enrolled in school or an alternative education program. The award honors significant volunteer involvement and is not intended to honor academic or heroic activity. Each recipient will receive $1,000, a plaque and public recognition. The deadline for applications is March 1. For more information, call 860-522-9622, Ext. 2344.

HARTFORD

Students Are Invited

To Chess Tournament

Connecticut students who enjoy chess are being offered an opportunity to compete in the Connecticut Scholastic Chess Championship titles on Feb. 28 at the Travelers Corp. cafeteria in Hartford at 9:30 a.m.

Students will play four games against players in their own grade. Trophies will be awarded to the four highest scores. Players interested should send their name, address, school and grade along with a $12 entrance fee to Fred Townsend, 100 Wells St., Suite 908, Hartford, CT 06103. Late entries will be accepted the day of the tournament with a $15 charge. Players are asked to bring their own chess sets.